On the eve of the state visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the Republic of Azerbaijan, UzA will share with readers the thoughts and opinions of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Uzbekistan, Mr. Huseyn Guliyev, on the achievements and success of Uzbekistan, transformations and reforms, as well as on Azerbaijan – Uzbekistan relations.

– Today, the strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan is very high. All cultural, humanitarian, political, and economic activities are based on the existing bilateral agreements.

The actions of the state authorities are confirmed and supported by the existing legal framework, which determines the level of mutual understanding, which is a kind of political guarantor for the development of relations.

This strategic partnership not only emphasizes our kinship and strengthens friendship, but contributes to the development of cultural, humanitarian, and economic relations in general, demonstrating the political will of the two peoples. All this, as a whole, creates the necessary favorable atmosphere in interdepartmental and interpersonal relations between the two fraternal peoples.

Our mission in Uzbekistan is to carry out fruitful work with colleagues from the country’s foreign ministry based on trust. First, the issue of further deepening friendship and mutual trust between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan is on the common agenda.

Together with colleagues from diplomatic missions accredited in Uzbekistan, we are working to create the most favorable conditions in all areas of interaction of common interest.

At the moment, interaction has been established with specialists from countries participating in joint regional projects implemented in Central Asia and the South Caucasus for the benefit of implementing common goals. This is a great success for both Uzbek and Azerbaijani diplomacy.

Today’s achievements in interstate relations between the two countries are naturally associated with deep historical roots, and the closeness of national traditions, languages, and culture of our peoples.

Along with this, it can be stated with confidence that the first visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Baku and his meeting with the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in a confidential atmosphere is a fundamental factor for the warmest and closest ties at the present stage of our bilateral relations.

It was very symbolic that Uzbekistan joined the Organization of Turkic States on the anniversary date, when it was ten years after the signing of the Nakhchivan Agreement on the establishment of the organization. This event contributed to raising the relations between our peoples to a higher level of mutually beneficial cooperation in all sectors of the economy, using the vast opportunities of both countries.

The visit of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Baku to participate in the VII Summit of the Organization of Turkic States and his meeting with President Ilham Aliyev marked a new era in the history of relations between the entire Turkic world. To understand this, one should turn to the historical evidence of fraternal ties between our peoples.

I would especially like to draw your attention to the activities of the OTS. As a full member of this organization, Uzbekistan designated not only its moral and spiritual right to use the existing potential of the Turkic world for the benefit of the prosperity of the Uzbek people, but also formalized it legally.

The financial volume of the current agreements between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan within the framework of the OTS, amounting to several billion US dollars, is just a part of the projects being implemented. Expanding the economic aspects of multilateral ties will strengthen resilience against political and economic upheavals in the world.

The efforts of the leaders of our countries will serve as another impetus for exploring new horizons of friendly ties between our peoples. They will be a positive example for other countries. At the same time, as Ilham Aliyev stated at the OTS Summit, special attention is paid to Uzbekistan in this issue.

The policy of Uzbekistan contributes to strengthening peace and stability in the country and the region as a whole. The far-sighted and skillful integration of foreign policy courses for rapprochement with fraternal countries is recognized as authentically pragmatic and highly benevolent. The world community perceives this reality as a peculiar handwriting of Uzbek diplomacy.

Uzbekistan can rightfully be considered the heart of Central Asia, because this land is located in the center of historical Turan. More than once noted with satisfaction that Uzbekistan is a key country in the region, without whose participation, not a single issue can be resolved.

The people of Uzbekistan are the successor and bearer of the ancient culture, the tremendous Turanian civilization. Uzbeks are the descendants and heirs of outstanding personalities on the world scale. They created great empires, and for several millennia, they supported and encouraged a magnificent school of research scientists who became the founders of the world’s sciences. Famous thinkers of the East were born and raised in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Termez, Khorezm, and Fergana Valley. Geographically, the center of the centuries-old historical process of the formation of statehood was located on the territory of present-day Uzbekistan.

Intensive reforms are being carried out in the state power structure in the country – this cannot be overlooked.

The cardinal changes taking place in the country are directly related to the activities of the Head of state, which clearly outlined the policy of New Uzbekistan: “From national revival to national progress”.

The transformation into a modern and developed country is also reflected in everyday life. Thanks to the reforms, Uzbekistan appeared in the international arena as a free, stable, democratic country with a progressively developing economy.

At the initiative of the head of state, much work has been carried out aimed at resolving regional interstate issues.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev took several measures to normalize relations with neighboring countries and organized meetings with the leaders of the states of the region. Since 2016, contacts between Uzbekistan and the countries of Central Asia have become more frequent, and this must be noticed. All these actions and events initiated by Uzbekistan have significantly increased the country’s authority in the world political arena. As a result of this mission, peace is maintained in the region.

The political revival in foreign policy has shown itself to be a new progressive movement, but the path toward progress is only possible with peace and harmony. Therefore, the central core and key element of the country’s domestic and foreign policy is a peaceful position, because national independence is based on interethnic, interfaith tolerance principles.

It must be admitted that the country’s leadership has managed to convey to the world community the meaning of the logical conceptualization of the country’s foreign policy, which is consistently and systematically working to create a friendly and trusting atmosphere between the fraternal peoples of the region.

It is well known that the Foreign Ministry of Uzbekistan vigilantly and impartially announces its official position on specific issues concerning any state in the world. This approach is due to diplomatic etiquette.

For an adequate perception of this position, one should understand and agree that the creators and subjects of international law are states, not nations. Regardless of the nation, traditional cultural and linguistic identifications cannot be associated with citizenship – these are entirely different concepts.

Sovereignty, recognized by the world community, is considered a sacred concept for official Tashkent, and this has been openly confirmed more than once.

The special position of Uzbekistan on the issue of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity has earned the Azerbaijani people’s well-deserved respect. Such a systematic and principled approach to this topic has won the undeniable political authority of the entire Turkic world.

Azerbaijanis have always paid due attention to friendly relations with Uzbekistan. They are well aware of the industriousness of the great Uzbek people and treat this feature with deep respect. Much is known about the incomparable nobility of the Uzbeks, but we have a particular reason for gratitude. It was a challenging period for us, and the Uzbek people were among the first to come to our aid and firmly took the side of the truth.

Uzbekistan faces big changes

I do not get tired at every opportunity to wish the fraternal people of Uzbekistan prosperity, well-being, and a peaceful sky above their heads. Your country has always been a model of fidelity to the ideals of friendship and brotherhood between our states and wisdom.

History shows that the qualities outlined above have always allowed the Uzbek people to choose the only right path in the name of a brighter future, and I am more than sure that it will be the same this time.

I wish prosperity to our people. May the centuries-old friendship and brotherhood last forever!

Recorded by G. Khonnazarov, UzA